Helena Christensen hits back after former Vogue editor labels her 'tacky' for wearing a black lace corset at 50

Helena Christensen has enjoyed a successful career both in front of and behind the camera (Jeff Spicer/PA)

Helena Christensen attends Gigi Hadid's 24th Birthday at L'Avenue in Midtown on April 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

STYLE: Helena Christensen in a 1991 Chanel show. Photo: Courtesy of Thames & Hudson

From left, Claudia Shiffer, Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen on the catwalk at the end of the Versace women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion collection, presented in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) of the Versace women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion collection, presented in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Alexandra Shulman, novelist and editor in chief of British Vogue, at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival on April 1, 2017 in Oxford, England. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

Italian designer Donatella Versace (3L) acknowledges the applause with former top models Carla Bruni (L), Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen (R) at the end of Versace Spring/Summer 2018 show at the Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Top models (from left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen pose at the end of the show for fashion house Versace during the Women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion shows in Milan, on September 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Miguel MEDINAMIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Top models (from left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen walk the runway with Italian designer Donatella Versace (C) at the end of the show for fashion house Versace during the Women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion shows in Milan, on September 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Miguel MEDINAMIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Helena Christensen has enjoyed a successful career both in front of and behind the camera (Jeff Spicer/PA)

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Helena Christensen attends Gigi Hadid's 24th Birthday at L'Avenue in Midtown on April 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

STYLE: Helena Christensen in a 1991 Chanel show. Photo: Courtesy of Thames & Hudson

From left, Claudia Shiffer, Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen on the catwalk at the end of the Versace women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion collection, presented in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) of the Versace women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion collection, presented in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Alexandra Shulman, novelist and editor in chief of British Vogue, at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival on April 1, 2017 in Oxford, England. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

Italian designer Donatella Versace (3L) acknowledges the applause with former top models Carla Bruni (L), Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen (R) at the end of Versace Spring/Summer 2018 show at the Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Top models (from left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen pose at the end of the show for fashion house Versace during the Women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion shows in Milan, on September 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Miguel MEDINAMIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Top models (from left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen walk the runway with Italian designer Donatella Versace (C) at the end of the show for fashion house Versace during the Women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion shows in Milan, on September 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Miguel MEDINAMIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Helena Christensen has enjoyed a successful career both in front of and behind the camera (Jeff Spicer/PA)

Caitlin McBride Twitter Email

April 30 2019 11:47 AM

Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman is under fire for her criticism of Danish supermodel Helena Christensen's choice to wear a black bustier at the age of 50.

The legendary model was among the famous face at Gigi Hadid's denim-themed 24th birthday party and pictures were published of Helena arriving to the bash in a strapless semi-sheer bustier top paired with high waisted flares. Shulman, who edited British Vogue for 25 years and now has a weekly column with the Mail on Sunday, described the look as "tacky", adding that she should "call time on Ann Summers style, a look, incidentally, that no stylish young woman would dream of wearing".

"Something you wore at 30 will never look the same on you 20 years later. Clothes don’t lie," she wrote.

The article prompted a widespread backlash against Shulman, accusing her of not supporting other women and Naomi Campbell described it as a "cheap shot."

Helena Christensen attends Gigi Hadid's 24th Birthday at L'Avenue in Midtown on April 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

"She has no right or claims to be writing such a ridiculous article," Campbell added in her comment on Instagram. "I’ve known you 30 years and whatever you wear, you wear it well with class and dignity!!"

Christensen responded by posting a photo of herself with Tali Lennox and Camilla Staerk at the party on Instagram, writing: "Let’s continue to elevate and support each other, all you beautiful, smart, fun, sexy, hard working, talented, nurturing women out there #oopssheworeabustieragain."

In her retirement, Shulman has adopted a more outspoken and somewhat controversial persona, saying in 2017 that the magazine "would sell fewer copies" if she put a black woman on the cover (having only featured Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn as covergirls during her tenure).

After her successor Edward Enniful, a former stylist took the reins after her exit, she launched into a veiled criticism against a new wave of editors who think the "main part of their job is being photographed in a series of designer clothes with a roster of famous friends."

“Every great editor I know spends a great deal of their time on the minutiae of their baby’s existence: checking that even the smallest picture helps tell the story, working on cover lines, encouraging contributors who will ally themselves exclusively to their brand,” she wrote in her column.

Alexandra Shulman, novelist and editor in chief of British Vogue, at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival on April 1, 2017 in Oxford, England. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

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